New Poll Shows Mainers Want Timetable for Withdrawal of Troops from Iraq

WASHINGTON - Former Maine Congressman Tom Andrews, National Director of the antiwar coalition Win Without War, unveiled a new poll today that shows Mainers support a date certain for withdrawing troops from Iraq by a margin of 53% to 36%.

The poll was conducted by Lake Research Partners from April 9th-11th by 401 "likely" Maine voters. The poll asked, "Do you think the United States should or should not set a timetable for the orderly withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq that would have MOST troops out within a year?" Fifty-thee percent answered "should" and thirty-six percent answered "should not."

On Saturday, April 28th, rallies in Portland and Bangor will launch a statewide open letter campaign from the people of Maine to Senators Collins and Snowe urging them to represent the wishes of Mainers on the war in Iraq.

The following weekend Mainers will gather at their local post offices to mail the open letters to Senators Snowe and Collins.

"Senators Collins and Snowe speak critically about President Bush's failed policy in Iraq while they are home in Maine, but in Washington they consistently support binding legislation to keep our troops in the middle of a civil war," said Andrews. "They talk the talk but won't walk the walk. Their votes are a direct contradiction of the wishes of the people in Maine. This campaign gives Mainers a chance to have their say."

"The Senate will play a decisive role in determining the fate of our young men and women in harms way. Make no mistake, the responsibility lands directly on the shoulders of Senators Collins and Snowe."

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